The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), which monitors business conditions and future projections on a continuous basis. The BTOS covers all employer businesses in the United States, except for farms, and includes multiunit or multilocation companies.
According to the Census Bureau, the survey gathers information similar to other economic surveys, such as revenue, employee numbers, hours worked, and inventory levels. Data is collected every two weeks from a sample of about 1.2 million businesses divided into six panels, each reporting every 12 weeks over a year. On average, respondents spend nine minutes completing the survey.
BTOS data is available by sector, state, and for the 25 largest metropolitan statistical areas. It provides timely insights into economic trends and helps track the effects of events like natural disasters or economic downturns. This information supports local, state, and federal officials in making policy decisions and also assists businesses with their own planning.
The Census Bureau noted that new questions related to artificial intelligence were added on November 17; results from these will be published in 2026.
“Survey results give local, state and federal officials essential, real-time data to aid in policymaking and decision-making. In addition, the information aids businesses in making economic decisions,” according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
There was no formal news release associated with this announcement; only a tip sheet was provided.
